Plans Flashcards
What is the purpose of the plans practice?
The purpose of the plans practice is to facilitate communication and control by defining the products to be delivered, and the means to deliver them
What is the definition of a plan?
A proposal which outlines the what, where, when, how and who of the project as a whole
Why are plans important?
Plans are important for the user requirements and benefits, products to be delivered, delivery method, sequence of works, estimated duration of delivery, facilitates and locations involved, estimated costs, risks
What are the 3 levels of plan?
The project plan is a high level plan showing major products of the project - created at IP stage and updated in MSB
Then there is the stage plan
Then the team plans (optional)
What is the stage plan?
A stage plan should include a product breakdown structure, work breakdown structure, identifies major activities and resources needed
What is a project plan?
Project plans are normally high level. It’s made in IP and baselined when it becomes DP, then re-baselined after every MSB.
A project plan should detail the number of stages, boundaries and number of proposed WPs and their delivery methods
What is an exception plan?
Exception plans occur when a risk or issue comes into plan, it follows the exception report. Once an exception plan is approved, it becomes the new baseline product. It needs approval from the PB if it replaces the stage plan and approval from the business if an exception plan replaces a project plan
Are longer or shorter stages better?
Shorter stages mean more stage boundaries. This is harder for the PM as longer stages mean fewer end stage assessment and less input from the project board. WPs ideally should not span a Stage boundary!
Do stages overlap?
Stages do not overlap!
The project board must review everything at the end of each stage and ensure there is continued business justification. Whereas work packages often overlap
What should you consider when dividing projects into stages?
Consider the delivery method and how far ahead it is sensible to plan
Which principle aligns to the plans?
‘Focus on products’
What is the planning technique?
- Identifies products and their dependencies
- Simplifies the identification of the WPs
- Identifies sequencing of the WPs
What is the product based planning technique?
- Defining and analysing products
- Organising work packages
- Preparing estimates
- Prepare schedule
- Prepare budget
- Document the plan – a short narrative
- Analysing risks throughout!
‘Defining and analysing products’ is step 1 of the product based planning technique. What does it entail?
- Write the project product description
- Create a product breakdown structure (PBS) – a hierarchy of all products to be produced during a plan
- Write product descriptions
- Create a product flow diagram
What is the product breakdown structure (PBS)?
The hierarchy of all products to be produced during a plan. Descriptions need to be written for outcomes, including the users quality expectations.
What headings should be included in the product description?
- Identifier – product name
- Version - which version
- Purpose
- Composition - what it’s made of
- Format
- Derived from
- Quality specifications
- Development or skills required
- Quality tolerance
- Quality methods and quality skills required
What is a product flow diagram?
A product flow diagram shows the sequence of production and interdependencies – it identifies the appropriate delivery method
Why is a product flow diagram important?
The sequence of when and how the products need to be produced is very important
What is a WP?
Work packages describe how one or more products will be produced and delivered. It includes statement of work to be done and the associated work breakdown structure
What is a WP description?
Work packages describe how one or more products will be produced and delivered. It includes statement of work to be done and the associated work breakdown structure
What are internal and external dependencies?
Internal dependencies mean the project team has control over the dependency between one product and another
External dependencies means a product being produced is dependent on an aspect outside of project scope
What is step 3 the product based planning technique?
Preparing estimates:
- How long we think activities will take
- What people and resources we need to make them happen
What is step 4 the product based planning technique?
Preparing a schedule – graphical representation e.g Gantt chart
What is step 5 the product based planning technique?
Preparing the budget which uses this information to allocate budget or stage
What is the product sustainability?
The environmental impact of the product (like an EPD)